6alpha-dimethylaminomethyl-3-oxo-delta4-steroids and method for producing same



United States. Patent 6 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) This invention is for improvements in or relating to organic compounds, and has particular reference to a new class of steroidal A B-ones, substituted in the 6-position by dialkylaminomethyl grouping and in particular by a dimethylaminomethyl grouping.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new class of steroidal A -3-ones substituted in the 6-position by a dialkylaminomethyl grouping including Formula I below which compoundsare of value on account of their biological properties and as intermediates for the preparation of compounds having valuable biological properties. An important feature of the compounds of the present invention is their ability to form water-soluble salts with acids.

The invention provides the following specific new 6- dimethylaminornethyl-3-oxo-A -steroids 6a-dimethylaminomethyl testosterone acetate, which is of value on account of its anabolic/ androgenic properties 17u-acetoxy-6a-dimethylaminomethylprogesterone and the 16-methylene derivative thereof which are of value on account of their progestational properties 6a-dimethylaminomethyl-16a,17a-isopropylidene-dioxypregn-4ene-3,20-dione which is of value on account of its progestational properties.

According to the present invention there is provided a process for the preparation of 6-dimethylaminomethyl-3- oxo-A -steroids including the general formula which process comprises reacting the corresponding 3-enol ether including the general formula CHzNMe: (II) Where R is O-alkyl, O-hydroxyalkyl, O-cycloalkyl or O- aralkyl with more than one equivalent proportion of an acid.

In carrying the process of this invention into effect, the 3-enol ether of the 6-dimethylaminomethyl-3-oxo-A -steroid (11) may be dissolved or suspended in a solvent, such as acetic acid, and somewhat more than one equivalent proportion of a fairly strong acid, preferably with dissocia- 3,242,169 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 tion constant (pK in water) less than 2.0, is added. The mixture may be allowed to stand at room temperature until conversion into the 3-oxo-A -steroid (1) is complete, the reaction-time required depending upon the nature and concentration of the acid employed. Thereafter, the mixture is made alkaline to precipitate the 3-oxo-A -steroid (I) which may be recovered by filtration or extraction with a suitable solvent, and subsequently purified by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the 3-enol ether (II) may be dissolved, at room temperature, in an excess of an aqueous inorganic acid, such as hydrochloric acid, under which conditions conversion into the 3-oxo-A steroid (I) may occur relatively rapidly. The mixture is then rendered alkaline, and the project (I) isolated.

The process of the invention may be applied to the 6-dimethylarninomethyl-3-enol ether derivatives of androstane, D-homoandrostane, 19-norandrostane, pregnane, D- homopregnane and 19-norpregnane.

The following additional groups will not, in general, interfere with the process of the invention:

Hydroxy or acyloxy groups at positions such as C-ll, 16, 17, 20 and 21, although such acyloxy groups may possibly undergo complete or partial hydrolysis.

0x0 groups at positions such as C-11, 17 and 20.

Alkyl groups containing up to four carbon atoms, and in particular methyl groups, at positions C1, 7, 11, 16, 17 and 21.

Halogeno groups at positions C-9, 11, 16, 17 and 21.

Isopropylidenedioxy at positions 16-17 in 20-oxo pregnanes.

Bismethylenedioxy at position 17a,20:20,21 and unsaturated linkages [other than those at 3(4),5(6)].

The preparation of the starting materials of the present invention is described in our Belgian Patent No. 614,258 and United States counterpart No. 3,084,159 and the present invention may be applied to series listed therein.

Following is a description by way of example of methods of carrying the invention into effect.

Example 1.6a-dimethylaminomethyl testosterone acetate 1 Me Q I /l Q0 H 0::

('JHaNMei A suspension of 6-dimethylaminomethyl testosterone acetate 3-enol ethyl (or methyl) ether (10 g.) in acetic acid (20 ml.) was treated with concentrated hydroohloric acid (3 ml., 1.3 equivalents), and the mixture set aside for 1 hour at room temperature. Water ml.) was added to give a slightly turbid solution, the mixture was extracted with ether, and the aqueous phase was rendered alkaline by addition of concentrated aqueous ammonia. The precipitate was isolated with ether and purified from aqueous methanol to give Ga-dimethylaminornethyl testosterone acetate, needles, M.P. 178 to C., [111 +62.5 (c. 0.94 in chloroform), X 239 my (log 6 4.15).

Example 2.-] 7 a-acetoxy-d a-dimethylaminomethyl progesterone O OMe .ri'r

l C HzNMez 17m acetoxy 6 dimethylaminornethyl progesterone 3-enol ethyl ether (0.5 g.) was dissolved in concentrated hydrochloric acid (5 ml.) and the solution diluted with water (5 ml.). After 15 minutes at room temperature, the mixture was poured into an excess of aqueous sodium carbonate, and the precipitate collected by filtration and crystallised from acetone-hexane. l7ot-acetoxy- 6a dimethylaminomethyl progesterone separated in prisms, M.P. 190-192 C., [111 +37 (c. 0.86 in chloroform), A 239.5 111,41. (log 5 415).

Example 3.1.7a-wcetxy-6a-dimethylamin0methyl-16- methylenepregn-4-ene-3,20-di0ne lHzNMeg 17a acetoxy 6 dimethylaminomethyl 3 methoxy- 16-methylenepregna-3,5-dien-20-one (1 g.) was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid (5 ml.) and water m1.), and the mixture set aside at room temperature for 20 minutes. Addition of excess aqueous sodium hydroxide gave a precipitate which was isolated with methylene dichloride and purified from acetone-hexane. 170a acetoxy 6a dimethylaminornethyl 16 methylenepregn-4-ene3,20-dione separated in crystals, A 239.5 mm (log e 4.15).

Example 4 .6 a-dimethylaminomethyl-I 6 1,1 7m-is0pr0- pylidenedioxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione 6 dimethylaminomethyl 3 ethoxy 160L,17a isopropylidenedioxypregna 3,5 dien 20 one (700 mg.) was treated for 10 minutes with a mixture of concentrated sulphuric acid (1 ml.) and water (10 ml.). After addition of excess alkali, the product was isolated With ether and purified from aqueous ethanol, to give 60:- dimethylaminomethyl 16u,17a isopropylidenedioxypregn-4-ene-3,Z0-dione, crystals, x 239.5 my. (log e 4.14). i 7

6-dimethylaminomethyl cortisone acetate 3-enol ethyl ether (1 g.) in acetic acid (10 ml.) was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid (0.4 ml.) and the mixture set aside at room temperature for 45 minutes. It was poured into excess aqueous alkali and the product collected by filtration. Purification from acetone-hexane gave fia-dimethylaminomethyl cortisone acetate, crystals, A 238 mu (log 6 4.16).

Example 6.-6a-dimethylaminomethylandr0st-4-ene-3,1 7-

dione 3 ethoxy 6 dimethylaminomethylandrosta 3,5- dien-17-one (1 g.) was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid (5 ml.) and water 10 m1.), and the mixture set aside for 15 minutes. The precipitate obtained by the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide was filtered, washed, and purified from aqueous methanol. 60:- dimethylaminomethylandrost 4 ene 3,17 dione formed crystals, A 239 mp. (log e 4.15).

Example 7 .-21 -acetoxy-6a-dimethylaminomethyl-I 7ahydroxypregna-4,9 (11 )-diene-3,20-di0ne oEoNMei The procedure of Example 5 was applied to 21-acetoxy-- 17a hydroxy 3 methoxy 6 dimethylaminomethyl-- pregna-3,5,9(l1)-trien-20-one. The product was acetoxy 60c dimethylaminomethyl a hydroxypregna 4,9(11) diene 3,20 dione, which separated from acetone-hexane in crystals, A ZAQ m (log e 4.15 l i Example 8.--6a-dimethylam'inomethyl-l9-norandr0st-4- ene-3,17-dine The procedure of Example 6 was applied to 6-dimethylaminomethyl 3 methoxy 1 9 norandrosta 3, 5-diene-l7-one. The product was 6a-dimethylaminomethyl-19-norandr0st4-ene3,.17-dione, which was purified from aqueous methanol. It formed crystals, A 239.5 m (log 9 4.14).

Example 9.-6 x-dimethylaminom'ethyl hydrocortisone 21 acetate The procedure of Example 5 was applied to G-dimethylaminomethyl hydrocortisone ZI-acetate 3-enol ethyl ether. The produce, 6a-dimethyla-minomethyl hydrocortisone ll-acetate, was purified from acetone-hexane to give crystals, A 239 m (10g e 4.15).

I claim:

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

O C 0 (lower alkyl) O O CHZR;

0 (lower alkyl); 0

and

Wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl,

R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methylene,

R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, OX0 and ,B-hydroxyl,

R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl and -OC0 (lower alkyl), and

R is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy and OCO (lower alkyl).

2. 6a-dimethylaminomethy1 testosterone acetate.

3. l7ot-acetoxy-6u-dimethylaminomethyl progesterone.

4. a .acetoxy 6a dimethylaminomethyl 16- methylenepregn-4-ene-3,20-dione.

5. 60a dimethylaminomethyl 1611,1700 isopropy1- idenedioXypregn-4-ene-3,ZO-dione.

6. Su-dimet-hyIaminomethyI cortisone acetate.

7. 6oz dimethylarninomethylandrost 4 ene 3,17- dione.

8. 21 acetoxy 60c dimethylaminomethyl 17ahydroxypregna-4,9 11 )-diene-3,20-dione.

9. 6e dimethylarninomethyl 19 norandrost 4- ene-3,17-dione.

10. 6u-dimethylaminomethyl hydrocortisone 2 l-acetate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,040,035 6/1962 Petrow et a1. 260--397.4 3,061,617 10/1962 Nomine et a1 260397.4

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF: 